Das Erste is a live public television channel from Germany and serves as the best known national outlet within ARD, the network formed by the countrys regional public broadcasters. Because of that structure, its schedule brings together productions from different parts of Germany and keeps a broad general-interest profile, with room for news, fiction, documentaries, sport and special live broadcasts. It is especially associated with daily journalism and major national coverage.
In practice, viewers usually find flagship newscasts, current affairs magazines, political discussion, films, German and European series, historical and cultural documentaries, plus sports and live editions on election nights, during major crises or on days with high public attention. The tone changes across the day, but the overall mix stays that of a mainstream channel for people who want a practical view of Germany beyond a single genre.
Germany